The visit of Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder in Randersacker comprised an extensive vineyard tour by car and a massive tasting at the winery. Martin Johann Schmitt was our host.

The Schmitt family can trace back its viticulture roots to the year 1712. The name Schmitt’s Kinder (children) came into being in 1910 when a group of heirs -after the early death of their parents- decided to operate the estate together instead of dividing it. Today the 9th , Karl Martin and Renate Schmitt and the 10th generation, Martin Johann Schmitt, of the founding family manages the estate which has 35 acres of vineyard of which 30% is planted with Silvaner, the Franken signature grape. The Schmitts produce top quality, dry wines and their 2012 Grand Cru Randersacker Sonnenstuhl Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) just won 2. place at a Feinschmecker (the best German wine and gourmet magazine) competition. At this winery the happy relationship between wine and art comes alive. The painter Andi Schmitt has his studio in the historic baroque estate in the town center and his and some artist friend’s works can be seen in the tasting room at the new winery.

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Schmitt's Kinder

Rudi Wiest: Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder

Rudi Wiest is the US importer of Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder. Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder joined the Rudi Wiest portfolio only recently.

Rudi Wiest: The Schmitt family has a tradition in viticulture dating back to 1712. The baroque estate manor built between 1710 and 1712 in the center of Randersacker spawned almost 10 generations of Schmitt’s that continued the tradition of producing wine from the steep vineyards along the Main river in Randersacker near Würzburg. Early last century the parents of the Schmitt clan died very young and left the surviving children as a community of heirs and instead of dividing the estate they decided to manage the estate together. Hence the name Schmitt’s Kinder.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour with Martin Johann Schmitt

The great grandfather of the current generation liked the designation and passed it on to Martin’s grandfather, Adam John Schmitt and then to his parents Karl and Renate Schmitt and of course last to him. As of 2014, he is the new man in charge after his apprenticeships and his schooling in Geisenheim. He is a skilled winemaker for both superb whites and reds. His responsibility is to uphold the quality for one of the great estates in Franconia and thus far has done a superb job.

Old documents, labels, photographs, bottles and work implements were transferred from the old manor to the more recently built estate building at the foot of the Sonnenstuhl vineyard in 1984.

The estate is a member of TRIAS, (terroir, passion, pleasure), and the prestigious VDP growers association.

Sonnenstuhl (VDP. Grosse Lage (the “filet” portion of the vineyard), the remainder VDP, Erste Lage): The Sonnenstuhl is also comprised of the following vineyards; (pre 1971 wine Law) Hohes Roth, Rückersell and Paradis. These vineyards are mentioned in documents dating back to 1240 as “monte Rode aput Raudersacher”. From the Sonnenstuhl tower overlooking the main valley, one has a view over the slope with South-Southwest exposure. The vineyard is traversed with large retaining walls hence the name “chair of the sun”!

In the steepest part or the upper portions of the vineyard it is comprised of clay and loam whereas in the lower portion is made up of loan and intermixed humus and sand. These are easily warmed soils where Silvaner and Pinot Noir feel quite comfortable.

Marsberg (VDP, Erste Lage): The Marsberg is composed of the following “former” sites: Spielberg, Marsberg, Hammelsmaier, Ewig Leben and Westroden. The original Marsberg is a slipface in a side valley with up to 251m elevation, (the river bottom is at 176m). Exposure is to the South with very deep loam and clay laced in limestone soil.

In the front portion, a Southwest facing underant slope which points directly towards the Main River, is the location of the Spielberg vineyard. The soil is more shallow and nutrient rich with very high limestone content and 70% steep. An ideal site for top Rieslings!

Pfülben (VDP, Grosse Lage): Bounded on both sides by a steep tributary valley, the Pfülben pushes above the town of Randersacker into the Main Valley. With its rounded edges it reminds of a fully stuffed pillow. In German it is denoted as “Flülwen” thus the name of the vineyard. At the steepest points these 70% steep Slopes with skeleton rich limestone marl at an elevation of 200m grow topflight Rieslings and Silvaners. With its proximity to the riverbanks, the vines profit from the light and thermal reflections of the Main River.

This middle to very deep humus rich and easily warmed limestone marl soils are generators for quick warming as well as providing excellent thermal storage capacity. The limited rainfall in the Main Valley provide for a near perfect and stable climate. A near ideal vineyard for the production of top dry wines, the GG’s or Grand Cru’s of Germany.

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About Me

I live in the greater Washington DC (US) and Frankfurt am Main (Germany) areas and write about wine. I am a member of the FIJEV (International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers). Before starting to write about wine in 2009, I was for almost 30 years an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). I am currently in Washington DC.